Improvement in thill-couplings



W. W. ANDERSON.

Thll Coupling. No.'109,48`4. Patented Nov.'22,'1870.

N, PETERS. PHOTO-LITHQGRAFHER, WASHMGTON D C WILLIAM W. ANDRSON, OF OAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

Letters Patent No. 109,484, dated November 22,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN THlLL-COUPLINGS;

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part o the same.

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. Ascensos', of Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Zihill-Oouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the clip.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevations, showing the position in which thc thill may he det-ached.

'Figure 5 represents the mode of constructing the bolt which holds the clanniing-jaw so that the same cannot be entirely detached My invention relates to an improvement in thillor carriage-shaft couplings, to prevent rattling without the use of India rubber, &c., and more particularly to an improvement in the invention patented to me November 17, 1868, and numbered 84,077; and

lt consists- First, in a short elastic clam ping-jaw, rigidly secured to the shaft-iron with a single screw, and always automatic in its operation, without requiring adj ustrneut.

Second, in constructing the coupling so that the dratt is entirely against thel shaft-iron.

Third, in the proportion and arrangement ot' the parts so that thc shaft-ironcannot bc detachcdii'om the coupling-pin except when the points ot' the thills touch the ground.

',lho object oi' the iirst part oi' my improvement is to simplify and cheapen the construction, to render it less liable 'to accidental derangement and damage, and to dispense with the projecting adj listing-screw. i

lhc object oi' the second part of my invention is to remove the principal friction fronrthe vicinity. ot' the openings between the coupler-jaws, because severe fraction againstthe edges of said openin would cause the parts to wear away faster than necessary or dcsirable.

The-object ot' the third part ot' my invention is to rendenany accidental disengagement ofthe thills from the carriage impossible while said thills are attached to the harness of the horse, even though the clamping-jaw should be entirely removed. Y

That others may fully understand the construction and operation oi'my invention, l will'particularly dc scribe il. v

A represents the axle o1` a wheeled vehicle, and

ll, the clip which forms one part ot` the coupling;

The clip B is provided, as usual, with two cars, b b,

4and a pin, c, the latter ot' which formsthc pivot or axis for the thill l), y

These parts do not diii-r materially from similar parts in common use, and, therefore, will not require any further description.

lhe thillD is similar to those in ordinary use.

The shaft-iron E is formed to fit the curve of the thill 1), and said curve should be so adjusted that, when the shafts are attached to the horse, the portieri of said iron nearest the coupler-joint shall be perpendicular to the line of draft. This form is not absolutely necessary, but is preferable, because the joint may then be formed of parts relatively almost or quite straight, and capable ol" adjustment with greater ease and facility.

At the lower or rear end of the shaft-iron E there is a cylindrical segment, c, within which an arch orseat is formed for the pin c, as shown in figs. 2, 3, and 4, and said scat embraces 'full .one-halt'l ot` the surface Opposite to the' segment cis a smaller scgm'ent,j`, oi' a similar cylinder, having a corresponding arch or seat, only ol' less are.

The-segment f is attached to the lowerend ofa spring clamping-plate, lll., which is secured, by means ot' the4 screw (lr, to the Shaft-iron ll.

.lhe screw G forces the plate F down hard against the shaft-iron E, so that the tension of the spring cannot be increased after attachment. This is important, because it secures the spring against over-straining and breakage by excessive tlexure and, besides, it then presents a solid, substantial, and workmanlikc appear.

ance.

The bolt G is preferably made with a smali head, h., on its inner end, and has its f'emaleiscrew in the shaft-iron.

The small head h is fornied by riveting Vup the end of the bolt after it has been inserted through the spring and shaft-iron, and is designed to prevent the removal ot the bolt, and entire detachment ofthe fspring 11 attenattachment, so that the latter cannot be lost.

rlhe plate ,b is made straight, so that, when untiexed,

it will touch its supports only at its'two ends.

.lhe screw G is inserted through the spring-plate F at or near its ceutrill point, and, when said screw is` pressure upon said pin, to force it into its seat in seg# Y ment e, and said pressure will continue until, by reason ol' the. wearing away of said pin and its seat, the two segmentsl c and fcoine in contact, and the pin c is thus Arelieved from pressure, said pin will then have beenl so worn as to require renewal.

lt is possible that the spring '11 may he disabled by a sudden blow or otherwise, and in such au event it that @da wouldbc disastrous iftlie thill should become detached. therefore construct the segment e and its seat with reference to the space behind the pin e in the clip B, and said parts are proportioned so that there is not suticient room to permit the cs'ape ofthe coupler while the thills are elevated from the ground, as they must hewhen attached Vto the horse. This will be readily understood by reference to figs. 3 and 4, wherein the joint is shown in two positions: tirst, with the thills elevated, as they are when attached to the horse in fig. 3; and, secondly, with the points oi' the ihills resting upon the ground, asin iig. 4.

1t will he perceived that the segment e cannot escape when in the position shown in tig. 3, because the distance, w a', from the pin to the clip is less than the distance, y or horizontal dimension ot' the segment when in that position. v

In g. 4 it is shown that the distance yi: is reduced below the distance w x, when the points of the thills rest-upon the ground, and the coupling may then be detached.

h1 ig.1'thelines D'indieate the position ofthe thiiis when their points rest; upon the ground.

llaving described my invention.

l'What l. claim as new isl l. .ihe spring-plate 1", constructed with the small seg;- ment f, to press against the pin o, and secured in rigid contact with the shaft-iron ll hy the bolt G, as and for the purpose set forth.

.Z. The thill-conpling iron E, constructed as described, and attached to the thill 1),' so that the draftstrain shall he against the central part of the greater arch or segment c, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The construction and arrangement of the clip .l with the pin C and the segment e, as described, so that the same. cannot he detached when the points of the thills are elevated from the ground. y

WM.` \V. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

R. D. t). Snmur, E. R. NGKEAN. 

